Precision spectroscopy of the $3s\text{\ensuremath{-}}3p$ fine-structure doublet in ${\text{Mg}}^{+}$

Precision spectroscopy of the $3 s − 3 p$ fine-structure doublet in ${Mg}^{+}$

V. Batteiger, S. Knünz, M. Herrmann, G. Saathoff, H. A. Schüssler, B. Bernhardt, T. Wilken, R. Holzwarth, T. W. Hänsch, and Th. Udem

Phys. Rev. A 80, 022503 – Published 11 August 2009

Abstract

We apply a recently demonstrated method for precision spectroscopy on strong transitions in trapped ions to measure both fine-structure components of the $3 s − 3 p$ transition in ${{}^{24}M g}^{+}$ and ${{}^{26}M g}^{+}$ . We deduce absolute frequency reference data for transition frequencies, isotope shifts, and fine-structure splittings that in particular are useful for comparison with quasar absorption spectra, which test possible space-time variations of the fine-structure constant. The measurement accuracy improves previous literature values, when existing, by more than two orders of magnitude.

Received 26 June 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.80.022503

Authors & Affiliations

V. Batteiger¹, S. Knünz¹, M. Herrmann¹, G. Saathoff¹, H. A. Schüssler², B. Bernhardt¹, T. Wilken¹, R. Holzwarth¹, T. W. Hänsch^1,3, and Th. Udem¹

¹Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, 85748 Garching, Germany
²Department of Physics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
³Department of Physics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80539 München, Germany

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Issue

Vol. 80, Iss. 2 — August 2009

Reuse & Permissions

Access Options

Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Images

Figure 1
The ${Mg}^{+}$ resonance doublet near 280 nm is isoelectronic to the $3 s − 3 p$ doublet in Na historically labeled as $D_{1}$ and $D_{2}$ Fraunhofer lines. From the $D_{1}$ and the $D_{2}$ transition frequencies measured in ${{}^{24}M g}^{+}$ and ${{}^{26}M g}^{+}$ , we deduce isotope shifts and fine-structure splittings (FS). The measurement accuracy allowed us to resolve the isotope shift of the fine-structure splitting.Reuse & Permissions
Figure 2
(Color online) Spectroscopy technique [22]. A tightly focused laser beam cools an ion chain at one side only. A weaker spectroscopy beam is applied on axis to be insensitive to possible radial micromotion. An imaging photodetector together with software allows us to extract an essentially background free signal from a region-of-interest (ROI) around a single, sympathetically cooled ion.Reuse & Permissions
Figure 3
Wide scan across the ${{}^{24}M g}^{+}$ $D_{1}$ resonance. Fluorescence photons were collected for $3 s$ per data point; the scan was randomized in order. For our measurements we restricted the tuning range to 180 MHz around the line center. Inset: for comparison, we show an asymmetric ${{}^{24}M g}^{+}$ $D_{2}$ line profile scanned from the low-frequency side; overlaid is a Voigt fit to the rising edge. Here the ion was essentially uncooled; only a weak cooling beam was superimposed to prevent ion loss during the scan time.Reuse & Permissions
Figure 4
(Color online) Schematic experimental setup. All involved lasers are phase locked (PLL) to a GPS disciplined hydrogen maser. The phase coherent link between the rf reference and the uv regime via a fiber laser frequency comb and a transfer diode laser is shown for the spectroscopy dye laser. The spectroscopy beam is intensity stabilized with an AOM and spatially filtered with a $15 μ m$ pinhole. A QWP rotates the polarization state of the spectroscopy beam. $D_{2}$ cooling light is provided by a frequency quadrupled fiber laser [43]. An alternative setup generating both beams from a single laser output is shown in [22].Reuse & Permissions
Figure 5
(Color online) Measurement of two isotopic components of the $D_{1}$ and the $D_{2}$ transition. Outer dashed lines represent the error bar on the absolute transition frequencies due to correlated amplitude and phase modulation; inner dotted lines represent the reduced error bar for the relative determination of isotope shifts and fine-structure splittings. Squares indicate measurements with two-laser systems according to Fig. 4; circles indicate measurements with the double pass AOM scheme described together with the measurement of the ${{}^{24}M g}^{+}$ $D_{2}$ component in [22].Reuse & Permissions

Physical Review A

covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum science

Precision spectroscopy of the $3 s − 3 p$ fine-structure doublet in ${Mg}^{+}$

V. Batteiger, S. Knünz, M. Herrmann, G. Saathoff, H. A. Schüssler, B. Bernhardt, T. Wilken, R. Holzwarth, T. W. Hänsch, and Th. Udem

Phys. Rev. A 80, 022503 – Published 11 August 2009

Abstract

Authors & Affiliations

Article Text (Subscription Required)

References (Subscription Required)

Issue

Access Options

Physical Review A

covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics and quantum science

Precision spectroscopy of the 3s−3p fine-structure doublet in Mg+

V. Batteiger, S. Knünz, M. Herrmann, G. Saathoff, H. A. Schüssler, B. Bernhardt, T. Wilken, R. Holzwarth, T. W. Hänsch, and Th. Udem

Phys. Rev. A 80, 022503 – Published 11 August 2009

Abstract

Authors & Affiliations

Article Text (Subscription Required)

References (Subscription Required)

Issue

Access Options

Authorization Required

Other Options

Download & Share

Images

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Log In

Search

Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation

Precision spectroscopy of the $3 s − 3 p$ fine-structure doublet in ${Mg}^{+}$